Sahley
document feeder

ABSTRACT

STATION AUTOMATICALLY IF ANOTHER COPY OF THE DOCUMENT IS TO BE MADE. THE SUCCEEDING PAGES ARE THEN FED IN (NUMERICAL) ORDER TO THE COPYING STATION AND THE SECOND COPY OF THE DOCUMENT IS MADE BY THE COPYING MACHINE. THE OPERATION IS CONTINUED UNTIL THE SELECTED NUMBER OF COPIES OF THE DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE FEEDER IS SHUT OFF. THE COPIES ARE DELIVERED FROM THE COPYING MACHINE IN (NUMERICAL) ORDER SINCE THE DOCUMENT PAGES ARE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE LOADED INTO THE FEEDER AND CONSEQUENTLY DO NOT HAVE TO BE COLLATED.   A DOCUMENT FEEDER FOR USE WITH KNOWN COPYING MACHINES IN WHICH (THE) A DOCUMENT TO BE COPIED IS POSITIONED AT A COPYING STATION FOR EXPOSURE TO THE COPYING MECHANICH OF THE MACHINE. THE FEEDER ADVANCES A DOCUMENT PAGE FROM A DOCUMENT SUPPLY STATION TO THE COPYING STATION, POSITIONS THE DOCUMENT PAGE PROPERLY THEREAT, AND ACTUATES THE COPYING MACHINE TO COPY THE DOCUMENT PAGE. AFTER THE DOCUMENT PAGE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THE COPYING MACHINE, IT IS FED TO A DOCUMENT SUPPLY STATION. THE OPERATION IS REPEATED UNTIL ALL PAGES OF THE DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN COPIED. CERTAIN OF THE FEEDER EMBODIMENTS PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING A DOCUMENT A PRESELECTED NUMBER OF TIMES TO THE COPYING MACHINE TO MAKE THE PRESELECTED NUMBER OF COPIES OF THE DOCUMENT. THE FEEDER AUTOMATICALLY COMPENSATES FOR ADVANCING DIFFERENT SIZE AND THICKNESS OF SHEETS SO THE INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF A DOCUMENT STACK TO BE FED MAY INCLUDE SHEETS OF WIDELY DIFFEING SIZE AND THICKNESS. THE PAGES OF THE DOCUMENT STACK ARE FED IN (NUMERICAL) SEQUENTIAL ORDER TO THE COPYING STATION AND ARE STACKED AFTER EXPOSURE IN THE SAME (NUMERICAL) ORDER. AFTER THE LAST PAGE OF THE DOCUMENT IS REMOVED FROM THE COPYING STATION, THE FEEDER AGAIN ADVANCES THE FIRST PAGE OF THE DOCUMENT TO THE COPYING

7 Sheets-Sheet 0F RF27976 L. W. SAHLEY April 23, 1974 DOCUMENT FEEDEROriginal Filed Feb. 21, 1967 1.. w SAHLEY Re. 27, 975

A ril 2:, 1914 DOCUMENT FEEDER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb 21,1957 ,IL on .w. s HLEY Re. 27, 976 A ril 23, 1974 DDCUMENT FEEDER 7Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 21, 1967 A il 23, 1974 L. w. SAHLEYRe. 27, 976

DOCUMENT FEEDER 7 Sheets-Sheet -1 Original Filed Feb. 21, 1967 April 23,1974 L. w. S AHLEY Re. 27, 6

DOCUMENT FEEDER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed FPbv 21, 1967 L. w.SAHLEY Re. 27, 976

DOCUMENT FEEDER 7 Sheets-Sheet F,-

7 m8 Na 0mm April 23, 1914 Original Filed Feb. 21. 1967 April 23, 1914L. w. SAHLEY DOCUMENT FEEDER Shae ts-Shee t Y START RELAY FORWARD FEEDREVER SE FEED INTERMITTENT STOP RELAY PRTNT RELAY RE-START RELAY STOPFORWARD FEED RELAY REVERSE RELAY INTERN ITTENT STOP RELAY STOP REVERSEFEED RELAY nevsnsme zuv United States Patent 27,976 DOCUMENT FEEDERLloyd W. Sahley, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to Eastman KodakCompany, Rochester, N .Y.

Original No. 3,499,710, dated Mar. 10, 1970, Ser. No.

617,582, Feb. 21, 1967. Application for reissue Mar.

10, 1972, Ser. No. 233,796

Int. Cl. G03b 27/46 U.S. Cl. 355-64 80 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets II II appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A document feeder for use with known copyingmachines in which [the] a document to be copied is positioned at acopying station for exposure to the copying mechanism of the machine.The feeder advances a document page from a document supply station tothe copying station, positions the document page properly thereat, andactuates the copying machine to copy the document page. After thedocument page has been exposed to the copying machine, it is fed to adocument supply station. The operation is repeated until all pages ofthe document have been copied. Certain of the feeder embodiments providefor automatically feeding a document a preselected number of times tothe copying machine to make the preselected number of copies of thedocument. The feeder automatically compensates for advancing differentsize and thickness of sheets so the individual sheets of a documentstack to be fed may include sheets of widely differing size andthickness. The pages of the document stack are fed in [numerical]sequential order to the copying station and are stacked after exposurein the same [numerical] order. After the last page of the document isremoved from the copying station, the feeder again advances the firstpage of the document to the copying station automatically if anothercopy of the document is to be made. The succeeding pages are then fed in[numerical] order to the copying station and the second copy of thedocument is made by the copying machine. The operation is continueduntil the selected number of copies of the document have been made andthe feeder is shut off. The copies are delivered from the copyingmachine in [numerical] order since the document pages are alwaysmaintained in the order in which they are loaded into the feeder andconsequently do not have to be collated.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved document feeder for a copying machine and into which theoperator loads the document and sets the controls to automaticallypresent the document to the copying station of a copying machine apreselected number of times and actuate the machine to make acorresponding number of copies of the document and which feeder greatlyreduces the time and labor required of an operator.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved document feeder for a copying machine as noted in the precedingparagraph wherein one copy of the document is made by the copyingmachine each time the document is fed between document trays and whenthe last page of the document has been exposed to the copying mechanismand is delivered to one of the trays, the feeder is automaticallyreversed and the pages of the document are fed from the one tray to thecopying station and to the other tray until the selected number ofcopies have been made.

Still another object of the present invention is the pro- Re. 27,976Reissued Apr. 23, 1974 vision of a new and improved document feeder fora copying machine as noted in the preceding paragraph wherein thedocument is fed to the copying station from lower portions of the traysand is received from the station at upper portions of the trays andmeans are provided for controlling the feeder so that when feed is fromone of the trays, the other tray is arranged to receive the document andvice versa.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improveddocument feeder for feeding the pages of a document to a copying stationof a copying machine in [numerical] sequential order and are dischargedtherefrom and stacked in the same [numerical] order so that the pages ofeach copy made of the document are automatically collated as they aredelivered from the copying machine.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a documentfeeder for a copying machine and which automatically compensates foradvancing to the copying machine a document comprising individual sheetsof different size and thickness so that sheets of different physicalcharacteristics may be fed without making any adjustment of the feeder.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved document feeder as set forth in the preceding paragraphwherein the copying machine has an exterior copying Window on which the[sheet or sheets] page or pages of the document to be copied areadvanced into a copying position by a plurality of driven rollerssupported above the window and [are] counterbalanced to exert a presetlight pressure on the window, [and] the rollers [are] being readilymovable away from the window by a [sheet] page moving therebetween [and]an extent necessary to accommodate the [sheet] page thicknesses and yetexert sufficient pressure on the [sheets] pages to drive the [sheets]pages to the copying position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improveddocument feeder for automatically feeding a document page to be copiedfrom a document storage station to a copying window of a copying machineto eliminate manual feeding of the copying machine.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved document feeder as noted in the preceding paragraph wherein thefeeder has a frame supported on the machine so that at least a portionthereof overlies the copying window and the overlying portion can bereadily moved away from the window to provide for freeing a jammed pageor to manually position a book or the like on the window.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved document feeder for automatically advancing a page or pages ofa document to a copying window of a copying machine and wherein thedocument is loaded into a document supply station overlying the copyingwindow with the bottom page exposed to the copying window and feedingmeans successively removes the bottom page after each bottom page hasbeen copied by the coying machine and conveys same to a documentreceiving station.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved document feeder as noted in the preceding paragraph wherethe feeding means includes a reciprocable member having sheet grippingmeans and which is moved into gripping engagement with the bottom sheetand removes the sheet upon retraction of the member and directs it to aconveyor which delivers the sheet to the document receiving station.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved document feeder having a carriage with sheet gripping means forsuccessively gripping pages of the document at a document supply stationand conveying the pages to and properly posi tioning them at the copyingstation and removing them from the copying station and depositing sameat a document receiving station.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved document feeder as noted in the preceding paragraphwherein the [sheet] pages are gripped by suction members and arereleased by discontinuing operation of a suction pump.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of illustrated embodiments of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a feeder embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the feeder taken approximately along line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view taken approximately along line 2a2a of FIG.2;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of part of the feeder indicated by line3-3 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing another feeder embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another feeder embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the feeder of FIG. 6 andshowing parts in different positions;

FIG. 8 is a frontal elevational view showing portions in section ofanother feeder embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view with parts removed of the feeder ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the feeder of FIG. 8 andshowing parts in different positions;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation view of the feeder of FIG. 8 asviewed from the back side;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a furtherfeeder embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 1313 of FIG.12; and

FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram showing controls for the feeder.

The present invention relates to a novel feeder for feeding a page orpages of a document to a copying station of a copying machine. The termdocument as used herein is intended to mean [multiple] one or morerelated pages. The copying machine is operated to make an image of [the]a document page and make a copy thereof, each time a page has beenadvanced to the copying station. In the illustrated feeder embodiments,the documentIs] pages are fed to a copying machine which has an exteriorwindow through which the document [is] pages are exposed to the copyingmechanism of the copying machine. It should be appreciated, however, thefeeders according to the present invention have applicability forfeeding [sheets] pages to copying machines which have copying stationsother than a window or the like.

Several of the illustrated embodiments provide for automatic feeding ofthe pages of a document[s] to a copying station a selected number oftimes so that the machine can make the required number of copies of thedocument without manual reloading. In certain other of the illustratedembodiments, the feeders require manual reloading after one copy of thedocument has been made by the copying machine. In all but one of theillustrated embodiments, the pages of the document are stacked as theyare delivered from the copying station in the same numerical order inwhich they [are] were originally stacked when loaded into the feeder sothat if the document is to be again fed to the copying station, whethermanually or by automatic means, the copied pages of the document aredelivered from the copying machine in [numerical] order and no collatingof pages is required.

The feeders according to the illustrated embodiments of the presentinvention are adaptable for use with several commercially-availablecopying machines. The machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 is of thetype having a raised copying window and the feeder mechanisms arearranged to feed the documents to and from the raised window. Thecopying machine illustrated in FIG. 8 is of the type having aflush-mounted copying window. The difference in the feeders for thesedifferent types of machines is in the supporting arrangement of thefeeder to compensate for the difference in height of the copying windowrelative to the upper surface of the copying machine.

Referring to the drawings and intially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a feederdesignated generally as 10 is shown supported on a copying machine 12.The copying machine 12 has a high-rise window 14 associated with its[or] viewing station [14] through which the pages of a document to becopied [is] are exposed to the copying mechanism of the copying machine.Upon actuation of the machine 12, an image of a document page positionedon the window 14 is made and transmitted. The image is formed on a sheetof copy paper [and] which is subsequently discharged from the machineinto some type of receiving tray. The copying machines with which thepresent invention is associated are commercially available machines andaccordingly the details of construction and operation will not bedescribed herein.

The feeder 10 is adapted to feed the pages of a document or documents tobe copied from a document supply station 16 to the copying or viewingstation represented by the copying window 14. The document representedby the letter M in the drawings [are] is manually loaded into thedocument supply station 16. When a page of the document M has beenpositioned on the copying window 14, the copying machine is operatedautomatically to make an image of the indicia on the document page.After the document page has been exposed to the copying mechanism of thecopying machine, the document page is delivered to a second documentsupply station 20. This operation continues until all the pages of thedocument M have been presented to the copying window 14 and are stackedat the document supply station 20. If the feeder 10 has been set toprovide more than one copy of the document, the document is then fedpage-by-page from the document supply station 20 to the copying window14 where it is again exposed to the copying mechanism of the copyingmachine 12 and thereafter delivered to the document supply station [14]16. The operation continues until the document has been exposed thedesired number of times to the copying machine 12 to provide theselected number of copies. When the document has been fed the requirednumber of times, the feeder 10 is automatically shut off.

The document supply stations 16 and 20 are provided by identicalstructure and, consequently, only document supply station 16 will bedescribed in detail. The same reference numerals will be applied to thecorresponding parts of the document supply station 20 with the additionof the letter a. The document supply station [14] 16 is provided by atray 22 which is supported in any suitable manner on the machine 12. Thefeeder supporting framework will be dictated by the configuration of themachine 12.

The pages of the document M to be copied are prearranged in numericalorder with the lowest numbered page on the bottom of the stack if morethan one page of the document is to be copied. The stack is manuallyloaded into tray 22 through a suitable opening 23 in the front side oftray 22 and near the bottom of the tray 22. Tray 22 has associatedtherewith a hold-down mechanism 24. The hold-down mechanism 24 comprisesa plate 25 within tray 22 which has a plurality of spring urged plungers26 depending therefrom. The plate is springurged in a downward directionby a plurality of springs 27 acting between the top side of tray 22 andthe upper side of the plate 25. Springs 27 maintain the plungers 26 incontact with document M [and] which in turn maintain the bottom page ofthe document in engagement with the bottom of tray 22. The plate 25moves downward as the [sheets] pages are fed from the bottom by aplurality of driven rollers 28. The plate 25 is moved upwardly againstsprings 27 by a solenoid C. The solenoid C has a rod 21 connected toplate 25. When energized, solenoid C moves the hold-down plate 25upwardly away from the bottom of tray 22 and the tray is ready toreceive documents.

The driven rollers [22] 28 are mounted for rotation by a shaft and arearranged so that their peripheries extend through openings or slots 29in the bottom of tray 22 and engage the bottom [sheet] page of thedocument M. Shaft 30 is rotated in clockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 2, by a motor 32. The motor 32 is preferably an electrical motorwhich has a drive pulley 34 drivingly connected to a pulley 35 on theend of shaft 30 through a drive belt 36. Operation of motor 32 effectsrotation of the rollers 28 which engage the bottom-most [sheet] page andfeed it to the right, as viewed in the drawings. The bottom [sheet] pageis maintained in engagement with rollers 28 by the hold-down means 24.

The [sheet] page is fed through an opening or feedslot 37 arranged inthe lower portion of the tray 22. As the leading edge of the [sheet]page emerges from the feed slot [36] 37, it moves across a gate 38 andinto engagement with the conveyor means 40. Conveyor means 40 feeds the[sheet] page across the copying window 14 until the page is in properposition for exposure to the copying mechanism of the copying machine12. The conveyor means 40 comprises a power driven roller conveyor 42having a plurality of power driven rollers 44 mounted on shafts 46, 47,48, 49, and 51. The shafts 46-51 are supported at their respective endsin conveyor support brackets 52 and 53. The brackets 52 and 53 haveupwardly inclined end portions 52c and 530 which are pivotally connectedto a shaft 54 by suitable bearings. The shaft 54 is supported on thetray 22 by a plurality of lugs 55 fixed to the top side of tray 22. Itshould be apparent from the foregoing that the conveyor 42 can bepivoted away from window 14 by manually swinging it counterclockwise, asviewcd in FIG. 2, to provide free access to the window 14. With theconveyor 42 swung out of the way, the machine 12 can be manually fed,such as by positioning a book or other document thereon, or in the eventa page of the document jams, it can be readily cleared by pivoting theconveyor 42, as described.

An important feature of the present invention is to provide a feederwhich is capable of feeding a document comprising [sheets] pages ofwidely varying size and thickness without adjusting the feeder 10. Therollers 28 and 44 are so spaced along their associated support shafts 30and 46[50] 51 and shafts 30 and 46-[50] 51 are so spaced from oneanother that even when the smallest sized [sheet] page which is inextensive commercial use is fed, at least two of the rollers engage thesheet at any one time. The two-roller engagement provides for feedingthe small size [sheet] page with a minimum of misalignment. The [sheets]pages of varying sizes must be loaded into tray 22 so that they have acommon edge aligned with one corner of tray 22 to initially locate the[sheets] pages relative to the rollers.

The feeder 10 automatically compensates for feeding different thicknessof [sheets] pages by providing means for counterbalancing the [framesupporting] conveyor 42. In the illustrated embodiment as shown in FIG.2a the counterbalancing means comprises a pair of coil springs 57 and59. The springs 57 and 59 are connected at one end to shaft 54 and areconnected at their opposite ends to brackets 52 and 53 respectively.Springs 57 and 59 are selected to counterbalance a major portion of theweight of brackets 52 and 53, shafts 46-[50] 5] and rollers 44 carriedthereby so that [roller] rollers 44 [exerts] exert only a slightpredetermined pressure on the copying window 14 which is sufficient topositively drive the [sheets] page. Since the major portion of theweight of brackets 52 and 53, shafts 46-51 and rollers 44 [are] iscounterbalanced by the springs 57 and 59, the rollers 44 are readilymoved away from window 14 by the [sheet] page of paper being fed betweenthe rollers and the window. The rollers 44 move upward an extent toaccommodate the thickness of the [sheet] page being advanced whileadvancing the [sheet] page across window 14.

The brackets 52 and 53 are also mounted to permit them to move relativeto one another when, for example, the length of the [sheet] page beingadvanced is less than the width of the conveyor 42. The relativemovement is provided by making the openings in lugs 55 larger than theshaft 54 extending therethrough so that the shaft 54 can tilt relativeto the lugs and accommodate movement of one of the brackets relative tothe other.

The rollers 44 like the rollers 28 have peripheries constructed offriction material such as rubber or the like, to readily move the paperwithout slipping. The rollers 44 are driven by motor 32. The rollershafts 4651 are driven from shaft 30 through a disconnectible driveconnection. The disconnectible drive connection includes a gear 56 onone end of shaft 30 which meshes with a gear 58 rotatably supported on ashaft 31. Shaft 31 is supported on an arm 52d extending from bracket 52.Also mounted on shaft 31 is a pulley 31c which drives pulleys 46c-51csupported on the ends of shafts 46-51, respectively, through drive belts60-65 as shown in FIG. 1. When the motor 32 is operated, drive istransmitted from gear 56 to gear 58 and imparts clockwise rotation torollers 28 and counterclockwise rotation to rollers 44 through pulleys46c51c and belts 6065.

The disconnectible drive connection between gears 56 and 58 permits thedescribed pivoting of the brackets 52 and 53 to provide access to thewindow 14. When the brackets are pivoted away from the window 14, gear58 is moved out of meshing engagement with gear 56 and upon return ofthe brackets to their illustrated positions the gears 56 and 58 mesh.When the gears are in mesh, the motor 32 is operated to drive therollers 28 and 44 a predetermined number of revolutions to move a pageof the document from the tray 22 onto the window 14 with the indiciathereon properly located in relationship to the window so that the imagewill be properly centered on the copy paper. When the rollers 44 rotatethe predetermined number of revolutions, the [sheet] page will bepositioned with its leading long edge abutting the right hand edge ofthe frame of the window 14. A plurality of [sheet] page holdaiownmembers 66 are supported by shafts 67 carried by the brackets 52 and 53.The hold-down members 66 are spring members which exert a downward forceon the [sheet] page to maintain the [sheet] page in contact with thewindow 14.

The feeder 10 can be made as a parasite unit that can be readilyattached to an existing copying machine. If the unit is to be a parasiteunit, means are provided for initiating the copying cycle of the copyingmachine after a [sheet] page has been fed and properly positioned on thecopying window 14. The copying actuating mechanism preferably is, asillustrated in FIG. 3, in the form of a solenoid actuated finger 68arranged to depress the print button PB of the copying machine 12 when asolenoid E is energized. The solenoid E is supported in any suitablemanner on tray 22 such as by a bracket 70 extending outwardly from tray22. The solenoid E is operated when the motor 32 has rotated the rollers[29] 28 and 44 a predetermined number of revolutions indicating that thepaper is in proper position on the window 14. Upon energization, thesolenoid E moves finger 68 against the bias of a spring (not shown) tomomentarily depress the print button PB of the machine [14] 12, toinitiate the copying cycle of the machine. After momentary contact, thesolenoid E is de-energized and the spring moves the finger 68 out ofengagement with the switch PB.

The copy cycle is initiated by directing a beam of light through thewindow 14 to illuminate the [sheet] page. An image thereof is made bythe copying mechanism and, subsequently, formed on a sheet of copy paperas is well known in the art. After the document page on window 14 hasbeen exposed to the copying mechanism, it is conveyed to station by theconveyor 42. With the parasite" unit, a conventional photoelectricsensing means PES is suitably supported on the bracket 52 above thewindow 14 in position to sense the light which illuminates the page onwindow 14. The photoelectric sensing means PES controls operation ofmotor 32 to move the [sheet] page from window 14 to the document supplystation 20 and at the same time, feeds [a] another document [or] pagethereof from the tray 22 of station 16 onto the window 14 and thecopying cycle heretofore described is again re peated. The describedoperation is continued until all the pages of the document to be copiedin tray 22 have been fed to the window 14.

The present invention provides for stacking of the [sheets] pages in thesame [numerical] order in tray 22a of station 20 as they are loaded intotray 22. Hence, the

sheets or pages of the document are always maintained in [numerical]order so that the copies delivered from the machine will also be in[numerical] the same order and will not have to be subsequentlycollated. The documentIIs] pages after exposure are delivered to thetray 22a by the conveyor 42. The document[s] pages are fed up gate 38awhich has been moved to its up position and into tray 22a through theupper part of the tray. The pages of the document descend by gravity onto the bottom of the tray.

The gates 38 and 38a are pivoted about hinge axes A 39 and 39a and aremovable between a down or feed position and an up or receive position bythe solenoids A and B. The solenoids A and B are controlled to positionthe gates 38 and 38[A] a in opposite positions at all times. Thesolenoids include a spring [38b (FIG. 3)] (not shown) which bias thegates to their down position. [and] When the solenoids are energizedthey move the gates to their up positions. During feeding from tray 22,solenoid A is de-energized and the gate 38 is in its down positionproviding for feeding through the feed slot 37 thereacross to the window14. At the same time the controls have energized the solenoid B toposition the gate 38a in the receive or up position as illustrated inFIG. 2 so that the conveyor 42 delivers the document page from thewindow 14 up the ram or gate 38a and through feed slots 37a into the topof the tray 22a where it descends by gravity toward the bottom of thetray. Also, the solenoid D of the hold-down mechanism 24a is energizedto move the plate 25a to its uppermost position so as not to interferewith the delivery of the sheets to tray 22a.

The aforedescribed feeding operation of the feeder 10 provides formaking one copy of each page of the document. The feeder 10 according tothe present invention can be set to make a number of copies of thedocument automatically without manually reloading the tray 22. A copynumber selector switch CCS on top of tray 22 can be set to operatefeeder 10 so that the selected number of copies of the document are madeby the copying machine 12. The switch CSS is a commercially availableswitch which is stepped once each time that the document is fed to thewindow 14 from one of the stations and stacked in the other station. Theswitch CCS is stepped preferably by a metal sensing switch MS-l or MS-2carried by the hold-down plates 25 and 25a respectively.

The switches MS1 and MS-2 are commercially available switches whichoperate when the plunger thereof engages the metal bottom of the trays22 and 22a. The switches MS-l and MS- 2 initiate reversal of the feederto provide for feeding the documents from station 20 to station 16 toprovide for making another copy of the document. The switches areinoperative as long as they are out of contact with the bottom of thetrays such as when there is a sheet of paper between the plungers andthe bottom of the trays or plates 25 and 25a are in their up positions.

If the switch CCS had been set to provide for making one copy of thedocument, it would be stepped to the zero position after the last pagewas delivered from the window 14 to the tray 22a of the station 20 andwould shut otf the feeder. If, on the other hand, switch CCS is set tomake more than one copy, for example, two copies, after the last page ofthe document has been delivered to the station 20, the metal sensingswitch MS-1 initiates operation of the controls to reverse the positionof gates 38 and 38a and hold-down plates 25 and 25a from their positionsshown in FIG. 2. The motor 32a on the tray 22a of the station 20 wouldthen be energized to drive the feed rollers 28a counterclockwise andconveyor rollers 44 clockwise to feed the first page of the document intray 22a to the window 14. The drive from motor 32a to rollers 28a and44 is disconnectible and is similar to the drive from motor 32 torollers 28 and 44 as described heretofore.

When rollers 44 have rotated the predetermined number of revolutions toposition the page of the document on window 14, solenoid E is energizedto depress print button PB. When the light of the copying machine goesout, photoelectric sensor PES initiates operation of motor 32a to feedthe document page from window 14 up the gate 38 and into the tray 22where it will descend by gravity as described heretofore.

As the last page of the document leaves tray 22a, the metal sensingswitch MS-2 of the hold-down mechanism 24a contacts the metal bottom ofthe tray 22a and steps the copy selector switch CSS back to the zeroposition so that as the last sheet of the document is received in tray22. the feeder will shut off.

If more than two copies are to be made of the document, the steppingswitch CSS would not shut the feeder off after the second feed but wouldagain feed the document from tray 22 to the window 14 and from there totray 22a. This operation would continue until the selected number ofcopies are made.

The copies made of the document are delivered from the copying machine12 into the copy tray (not shown) of the machine in numerical order andwould not have to be collated. As an aid in the separation of each copyof the document, an additional page could be included as the last pageof the document and the machine 12 would print this page either as ablank page or as a page hearing indicia indicating that it is aseparating page.

Alternatively, controls for the feeder 10 could provide for making anadditional copy of a blank page after the last page of the document isfed from the window. Such an arrangement may include in a parasite unit,for example, controls to energize solenoid E for operating the printbutton PB one more time after the last page is fed from the window 14and would cause the copying machine 12 to print an additional page whichcould function as a separator between copies of the document.

The controls for feeder 10 are shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 14.The control circuit shown therein may be used Where the feeder is aso-called parasite unit. Electricity for the circuit is obtained from aWall outlet and suitable means are employed to direct the appropriatecurrent from the outlet to conductor lines T-l, T-2, T3, and T4 shown inthe circuit diagram.

The pages of the document to be copied are loaded into the tray 22through opening 23 on the front side of the tray with the indicia down.If more than one page of a document is to be copied, the pages areassembled in numerical order with the first page on the bottom. Theoperator then turns the copy selector switch CSS to the number of copiesdesired of the document and depresses the on switch of the copyingmachine 12. For illustration purposes, the switch CSS is shown in thecontrol circuit of FIG. 14 (line 1) in position to make two copies ofthe document. The operator then depresses the start switch SS whichmomentarily closes its normally open contacts SSC1 (line 1) and 850-2(line 3). The closing of contacts SSC-l picks up the start relay 1R.Energization of start relay [12] IR closes its normally open contactslR-l (line 2) making a holding circuit for relay IR and contacts 1R-2 inthe conductor line T-1, and opens its normally closed contacts lR-3(line 29) to de-energize solenoid C (line 28) to permit the hold-downplate 25 to move down and plungers 26 thereon to engage the document.

Before starting, the controls position gate 38 in the down or feedposition and the hold-down means 24 in an up position to permit loadingof tray 22. The gate 38a associated with the tray 22a is in the up orreceiving position as is the hold-down mechanism 24a to provide forreceiving the pages of the document as they are deliverd from the copywindow 14.

Closing of the contacts SSC-2 (line 3) of the starting switch SS picksup the forward feed relay 2R. Energization of forward feed relay 2Rcloses its normally opened contacts 2R-1 (line 5) making a holdingcircuit for the relay 2R after the contacts SSC-2 open after the switchSS is released. Energization of relay 2R starts feeding of the documentby closing its normally open time delayed closing contacts 2R-2TC (line35) completing a circuit to the forward drive motor 32 for the feedrolls 28 and 44. Energization of the motor 32 drives feed rollers 28 andfeeds the bottom page from the tray 22 through the feed slot 37 intoengagement with the registering rollers 44 which move the page acrossthe copying window 14. After the motor 32 rotates the feed rollers agiven number of revolutions to properly position the page in abutmentwith the right edge of the frame for copying window 14 as viewed in FIG.2, a cam operated switch COS-1 (line closes its contacts momentarily andpicks up an intermittent stop relay 4R. The cam operated switch COS-1can be mounted, for example, on a stepped-down shaft driven by the motor32 so that a the motor rotates the predetermined number of revolutionsthe cam rotates one revolution and closes the contacts of the switchCOS-1.

Energization of the intermittent stop relay 4R closes its normally opencontacts 4R-1 (line 11) making a holding circuit around the cam switchCOS-1 and stops the motor 32 by opening its normally closed contacts4R-2 (line 5) in the holding circuit for the forward feed relay 2R. Whenthe forward feed relay 2R drops out its contacts 2R-2TC (line 35 openand stops the forward drive motor 32.

Energization of the intermittent stop relay 4R also closes its normallyopened contacts 4R-3 (line 13) completing a circuit to pick up the printrelay 5R. Energization of print relay 5R closes normally open contacts5R-3 (line 4), closes its normally open contacts SR-l (line 14) to forma holding circuit for the print relay SR and starts operation of thecopying machine 12 by closing its normally open contacts 5R-2 (line 31)completing a circuit to energize solenoid E. Energization of solenoid Ecauses the plunger 68 thereof to move out and depress the print buttonPB of the copying machine 12.

Depressing of the print button PB starts the copy mechanism intooperation which includes turning on a light which illuminates thedocument through the window 14. As the illuminating light goes on thephotoelective sensor PES (line 15) senses the light and closes contactswhich picks up the restart relay 6R. Energization of the restart relay6R opens its normally closed contacts 6R-1 (line 11) which drops out theintermittent stop relay 4R. Dropping out relay 4R closes its normallyclosed contacts 4R-2 (line 5) but energization of the forward feed relay2R is prevented at this time due to opening of normally closed contacts6R-2 (line 4). When the light goes oil", the switch of sensor PES opensand drops out the relay 6R closing its normally closed contacts 6R2(line 4) establishing a circuit to again energize forward feed relay 2Rthrough the now closed contacts 5R-3 (line 4) of print relay SR andthrough the normally closed contacts 4R2 (line 5) of the [intermediate]intermittent stop relay 4R. Energization of the forward feed relay 2Renergizes the forward feed motor 32 by closing contacts 2R- ZTC (line35). The rollers 44 move the page on the copying window 14 into the tray22a and at the same time feed the next page of the document from tray 22to the copy window 14. After the forward feed motor 32 has rotated therequired number of revolutions to position the next page onto thecopying window 14, the intermittent stop relay 4R is picked up bymomentary closing of the cam operated switch COS-1 as describedheretofore and drops out the forward feed relay 2R to stop the forwardfeed motor 32.

This operation continues until the last page of the document leaves tray22. As the last page leaves the tray 22, the metal sensing switch MS-lcloses its contacts MS1 (line 16) and MS-[2] 1 (line 7). When theilluminating light of the copying machine is sensed by the photoelectricsensor PBS, the restart relay 6R is energized and closes its normallyopen contact 6R-3 (line 16) completing a circuit to energize the stopforward feed relay 7R. Energization of the stop forward feed relay 7Rcloses its normally open contacts 7R-1 (line 17) forming a holdingcircuit for the stop forward feed relay 7R and closes its normally opencontacts 7R-2 (line 18). When the illuminating light of the copyingmachine goes out after the last page has been exposed, the forward feedrelay 2R is picked up as described heretofore and the last page is fedfrom the window 14 to the receiving tray 2221. After the feed rollers 44have rotated a given number of revolutions by the motor 32, the camswitch COS1 closes and picks up the relay 4R. Energization of the relay4R stops motor 32 by opening contacts 4R-2 [(line 6)] (line 5) and[close its normally open contacts 4R-4 (line 18) and at this time]completes a circuit to the reversing relay 8R[.] by closing normallyopen contacts 4R-4 (line 18).

Energization of relay 8R sets up the feeder to feed the pages from tray22a to window 14, so that a second copy of the document can be made.Energization of relay 8R closes its normally open contacts 8R1 (line 19)and forms a holding circuit for the reverse relay 8R. [Energization ofreverse relay 8R closes its normally open contacts 8R-1 and forms aholding circuit for the reverse relay 8R.] Energization of reverse relay8R closes its normally open contacts 8R-2 (line 26) and energizessolenoid A which moves gate 38 up to be in position to direct thedocuments delivered from the copy window 14 into the tray 22. At thesame time, energization of relay 8R opens its normally closed contacts8R3 (line 27) and de-energizes solenoid B and gate 38a moves to the downor feed position. Energization of the relay 8R reverses the positions ofthe holddowns 24 and 24a by closing its normally open time delayedclosing contacts 8R4TC (line 28) which energizes solenoid C after a timedelay and moves the hold-down mechanism 24 up, and [opens] by openingits normally closed contacts 8R-5 (line 30) [for de-energizing]ale-energizes solenoid D, moving the hold-down mechanism 24a down underthe influence of the springs 27a into engagement with the document inthe tray 22a. Energization of relay 8R steps the copy selector switchCS5 by closing its normally open contacts 8R-6 (line 32) which completesa circuit to solenoid F which indexes the copy selector switch CCS onestep counterclockwise indicating that one complete copy of the documenthas been made. Energization of reverse relay 8R also closes its normallyopen contacts 8R7 (line 20) [for] setting up the intermittent stop relay9R for controlling the reverse feed motor 32a, and opens its normallyclosed contacts 8R-8 (line 10) which drops the forward intermittent stoprelay 4R for the forward directionljs] out of the reverse feed circuitset up.

It should be apparent that the aforedescribed operation of reverse relay8R reverse the feeder and sets it up so that it is ready to feed thedocument[s] pages from the tray 22a to the copy window 14 and from thereto the tray 22. The reverse feeding operation starts by closing contacts8R-9 (line 7) which picks up reverse feed relay 3R before contacts 1MS-2(line 7) of metal sensing switch MS1 open. Contacts lMS-Z open whensolenoid C is energized and shifts hold-down 24 it its upper position.Relay 3R is held in by closing its contacts 3R1 (line 9) when contacts1MS-2 open. However, to insure that the holddowns 24 and 24a and gates38 and 38a have been reversed prior to reverse feeding, the contacts3R2TC (line 36) of reverse feed relay 3R delay in closing to delayenergization of reverse motor 32a.

After a slight delay, contacts 3R-2TC (line 36) close and energizereverse feed motor 32a. The reverse feed motor 32a, rotates the rollers28 counterclockwise and rollers 44 clockwise and feeds the first pagefrom the tray 22a onto the window 14. When the motor 32a has rotated arequired number of revolutions the cam operated switch COS-2 (line 20)momentarily closes and picks up the intermittent stop relay 9R.Energization of the intermittent stop relay 9R closes its normally opencontacts 9R-1 (line 21) and forms a holding circuit for the relay 9Rabout the switch COS-2. Energization of the intermittent stop relay 9Rstops the reverse motor 32a by opening its normally closed contacts 9R-2(line 9) breaking the circuit to the reverse feed relay 3R. Energizationof relay 9R also closes its normally open contacts 9R3 (line 12)completing a circuit to pick up the print relay 5R. Energization ofprint relay 5R closes its contacts 5R-5 (line 11) making a holdingcircuit for the print relay SR and closes its contacts 5R-2 (line 31)and energizes solenoid E which depresses the print button PB of the copymachine 12.

Depression of the print button PB initiates operation of the copymechanism of the copy machine and the illuminating light goes on toilluminate the document on the window 14. When the light goes on thephotoelectric sensor PES closes completing a circuit to the restartrelay 6R. Energization of the restart relay 6R opens its contacts 6R-4(line 21) dropping out the intermediate stop relay 9R [and] whichreturns its [normally] open contacts 9R2 (line 9) to their closedposition. Energization of the relay 6R also opens its contacts 6R-5(line 8) preventing energization of the reverse feed relay 3R at thistime. After the illumination cycle is completed, the light goes out andthe relay 6R drops out, returning contacts SR-S (line 8) to the closedposition completing a circuit for energizing reverse feed relay 3Rthrough the now closed contacts SR-4 (line 8) of the print relay 5R,through the normally closed contacts 6R-5 of the restart relay [5R] 6R,through the normally closed contacts 9R2 of the now de-energizedintermediate stop relay 9R to the reverse feed relay 3R.

Energization [or] of reverse relay 3R closes its time delayed closingcontacts 3R-2TC (line 36) and energizes the drive motor 32a. Thisdescribed operation is repeated until all the pages in the tray 22a havebeen fed from the tray 22a to the window 14. As the last page leaves thetray 22a the metal sensing switch MS2 closes its contacts 2MS-1 (line22) in preparation for initiating the final stop of the reverse feedoperation. As the last page is being illuminated by the copy mechanismof the copy machine, the relay GR is picked up and closes its normallyopen contacts 6R-6 (line 22) completing a circuit to the stop reversefeed relay 10R. Energization of the re lay 10R closes its normally opencontacts 10R-1 (line 23) making a holding circuit for the relay 10R.Energization of relay ltlR closes its normally open contacts 10R-2 (line24) in preparation for energization of the reversing relay 11R. As thelast page is fed from the copy window 14 into the tray 22, the camoperated switch COS-2 momentarily closes and picks up relay 9R asdescribed heretofore. Picking up of relay 9R closes its contacts 9R- 4(line 24) completing a circuit to the reversing relay 11R. Energizationof relay 9R also stops the reverse feed motor 32a by opening itsnormally closed contacts 9R2 (line 9), dropping out the reverse feedrelay 3R which in turn tie-energizes the reverse feed motor 32a.

Energization of the reversing relay 11R reverses the feeder set up toprepare for feeding the document in the forward feed direction.Energization of relay 11R closes its normally open contacts 11R-1 (line25) making a holding circuit for the relay 11R. Energization of relay11R opens its normally closed contacts llR-2 (line 16) and [contacts]11R-3 (line 18) dropping out the relays 7R and SR.

Dropping out of the relay 8R picks up forward speed relay 2R through thenow closed contacts 2MS-2 (line 6) of metal sensing switch MS-2 andthrough normally closed contacts 8R-1 (line 3). Feeding does not startimmediately since contacts 2R-2TC (line 35) delay in closing to permitthe gates 38 and 38a and hold-downs 24 and 24a to be reversed.De-energization of relay 8R opens its normally open contacts 8R-9 (line7) to prevent energization of reverse feed relay 3R during the forwardfeed cycle. The feeder set up is reversed by dropping out of relay 8Rwhich opens contacts 8R-2 (line 26) and closes contacts 8R-3 (line 27)to position gate 38 in the down position and gate 38a in the upposition. Hold-down 24 for tray 22 is moved down upon opening of contact8R-4TC (line 28) and hold-down 24a for tray 22a moves up upon closing ofcontacts 8R-5 (line 30). Moving up of hold-down 24a opens contacts 2MS-2(line 6) of metal sensing switch MS-2 and forward feed relay 2R is heldin by the closing of contacts 2R-1 (line 5).

It should be apparent from the foregoing that the feeder 10 is ready tofeed the document in the forward feed direction and this will occur whenthe time delay closing contact 2R-2TC (line 35) [close] closes. However,the copy selector switch CCS was set to feed the document twice to thecopying machine and energization of reversing relay 11R steps thecounter CCS one position by closing its normally open contacts 11R-4(line 34) completing a circuit to the solenoid F. The contact arm ofswitch CCS is now in the 12 oclock position breaking the circuittherethrough which drops out the starting relay IR and opens itsnormally open contacts lR-Z (line T-l) stopping further operations ofthe feeder. Dropping out of start relay 1R closes its normally closedcontacts 1R-3 (line 29) which energizes solenoid C to move hold down 24up so that the document copied can be readily removed from tray 22 andthe tray can be reloaded with a new document The feeder 10 was describedheretofore as a parasitetype feeder. The feeder It} could, however, becontrolled by the copying machine 12 and, in which event, the controlsfor operating the feeder would be integrated into the controls for thecopying machine. Integrated controls would eliminate at least solenoid Ewhich depresses the print button PB on the copying machine each time adocument page has been positioned on the window 14 and, in addition, thephotoelectric sensor PES would likewise be eliminated. The functionscontrolled thereby would be provided by the control circuits of thecopying machine.

Another embodiment of an automatic document feeder for a copying machineis illustrated in FIG. 4 and is designated generally as 90. The feederoperates generally in the same manner as the feeder 10 in FIGS. l-3.Parts corresponding to parts of the feeder 10 will be designated withcorresponding reference numerals with a prime mark added thereto todesignate the parts of feeder 90.

The feeder am has document supply stations :16 and 20' between which thedocuments M are fed in the course of positioning the pages of thedocument in the viewing station on the window 14'. The sheets are fedfrom the stations 16' and 20' by a conveyor 42' driven by motors 32 and32a depending upon whether the feed is from station 16' to the window14' or from station 20' to the 13 window 14. The structures of stations16' and 20', like stations 16 and 20, are identical and, consequently,only station 16' will be described in detail, and the correspondingstructure of station 20 will carry the same reference numeral with theaddition of a small letter a.

Station 16' is provided by a housing 92 suitably secured to the copyingmachine 12' by suitable brackets or the like (not shown) which providesfor a rigid connection to the housing of the copying machine. A documentreceiving tray 22' is disposed within housing 92. Tray 22 is mounted forvertical movement relative to the housing 92 and has a tongue-and-grooveconnection 94 with the housing to guide the tray 22' as it movesvertically. The tray 22' has a feed slot 37' located adjacent the lowerportion thereof through which the [sheets] pages are fed. Cooperatingwith feed slot 37' is a feed slot 96 in the housing 92 intermediate thetop and bottom. When the feed slot 3-7 is aligned with slot 96, a sheetor page of a document supported on the tray 22' can be fed through theslots to the conveyor 42.

The tray 22 is movable between a feed position which is the positionthereof illustrated in FIG. 4 to a receive position which is theposition of tray 22a at station 20'. The trays 22' and 22a are movedinto their feed positions by springs 98 and 98a acting between theunderside of the trays 22 and 22a and the bottom of the housing 92 and92a respectively. A suitable stop 99 is provided to limit the uppermostposition of the tray 22 [and] wherein the feed slots 37 and 96 are inalignment. Likewise, a suitable stop 99a is provided to limit theuppermost position of the tray 22a wherein the feed slots 37a and 96aare in alignment. The tray 22' is moved downward to its receive positionby a solenoid G. Solenoid G is operatively connected to the underside ofthe tray 22.

The feeder 90 operates similar to the feeder 10. The operator sets thenumber of copies on the copy selector switch CSS', and the feeder 90 isset up as shown in FIG. 4. The document to be copied is loadedlengthwise into the tray 22' through a slot in the front of housing 92.At start-up, the tray 22 is in its up position and the front end of thetray 22 is open and is in alignment with the loading opening in housing92. The hold-down 24' is in its up position to permit loading of thetray 22'. The motor 32' is then energized to drive the rollers 28' androllers 44' to feed the [sheet] page through the feed slots 37 and 96,to the window 14' of the copying machine 12'. The motor 32' and shaft 30which supports rollers 28' and gear 56' are supported on the bottom oftray 22' and move with the tray. Hence, before motor 32 can driverollers 44, the tray 22' must be in feed position so that gear 56' and58 are meshed.

When the page is properly positioned on the window 14, the print buttonPB is depressed by solenoid E and an image is taken of the indicia onthe document. If the unit is a parasite type unit, photoelectric sensingmeans PES' senses the light and again energizes the motor 32 to feed thedocument into the tray 22a which is in its receive position. Thisoperation continues until all the pages of the document have been copiedand are deposited in the tray 22a. If more than one copy is to be made,the position of the trays 22' and 22a are reversed from their positionsshown in FIG. 4 by operation of solenoids G and Ga. The tray[s] 22a isthen in its feed position and the tray 22.[b]' in its receive positionand the motor 32a is energized to drive the conveyor 42' to feed the[sheets] pages from the tray 22a to the window 14'. From the window [14]14', the [sheets] pages are delivered to the tray 22' in the same[numerical] order in which they are delivered to the window [14] 14'.This operation continues until the stepping switch CS has been steppedback or forward depending upon the type of switch mechanism employed,until the required number of images have been taken of the document bythe copying mechanism of the copying machine 12.

The controls for feeder shown in FIG. 14 can be employed for controllingfeeder 90. Solenoids G and Ga would replace solenoids A and B in thecircuit and otherwise the circuit would operate to control feeder in thesame manner as described for feeder 10.

The feeders 10' and 90 can be operated in a manner to eliminate thedocument supply stations 20 and 20. In such an arrangement, the pages ofthe document would be fed from tray 22 [and] or 22' to the windows 14and 14' [and] or thereafter, the motor 32 [and] or 32' would be reversedto drive the rollers 44 [and] or 44' clockwise so that the pages wouldbe fed from the copying [windows] window 14 [and] or 14' back to thetray 22 or 22'. In the feeder 10, this would require changing theposition of the gate 38 after each exposure so that the sheet returnedfrom the window 14 to the tray 22 would be fed into the top of tray 22and thereafter, the gate would be lowered in preparation for feeding thebottom sheet of the document to the window 14, and so on and so forth.

Feeder 90 would require the position of [trays] tray 22' to be movedfrom the feed to the receive position after the document is exposed tothe copying mechanism so that the [sheet] page would be fed back on topof the pages remaining to be copied. The metal sensing switch MS-l andMS-l' would be mounted so that the end thereof protrudes slightly abovethe bottom surface of the respective trays and a metallic separatorsheet can be loaded into the trays as the top [sheet] page of thedocument so that when the [sheets] pages have all been fed, the metallicseparator would engage the switch M84 or MS-l' causing the selectorswitch CSS or CSS' to be stepped one position, indicating that one copyof the document has been made. The separator sheet would, in turn, befed to the window 14 or 14' and the copy thereof would separate thecopies of the document made by the machine.

Any suitable control means could be provided for reversing the positionsof the gate 38 or [trays] tray 22 for providing the desired operation.Although this mode of operation of the feeder 10 and 90 will be moretime consuming, it has the advantage of always returning the document toa single station 16 or 16' in addition to providing a lower cost unitdue to elimination of stations 20 and 20'.

Although feeders 10 and 90 have been disclosed in connection with thehigh-rise type copying window, they are also equally adaptable forfeeding documents to a flush-mounted copy window. To adapt feeders l0and 90 for feeding to copying machines having flush-type windows, thetrays 22, 22a, 22 and 22a and [housing] housings 92 and 9221 may bemounted at an angle relative to the [window] windows 14 and 14' andcorresponding adustments made in the [conveyor] conveyors 42 and 42.This additional arrangement has not been illustrated as it is deemed tobe within the skill of the art. Moreover, the feeders can be integratedinto the initial design of the copying machines and the problem ofproviding suitable means for supporting the feeders on an existingmachine would be eliminated.

The present invention also provides document feeders for copyingmachines of the type described heretofore and which feeders operate tofeed [the] document pages from a first station to the copying window 14of the viewing station of the machine and to thereafter deliver thedocument pages from the window to a second station. If an additionalcopy of the document is desired, the pages of the document will have tobe manually removed from the second station and reloaded into the firststation. Several embodiments of feeders which provide for making asingle copy of a document are disclosed herein and shown in FIGS. 5through l3.

One of the manual reloading-type feeder embodiments is shown in FIGS. 5through 7 and is indicated generally by reference numeral 100. Feedercomprises a document supply station 102 overlying the copying window 14of the copying machine 12 and a document receiving station 104. Adocument feeding mechanism 106 operates to advance the pages of thedocument to the copying [station] window 14 and feed the pagessuccessively to the document receiving station 104 after each page hasbeen exposed to the copying mechanism of the copying machine 12.

The document supply station 102 is provided by a frame 108 which isshown attached to the copying machine 12 above the copying window 14.Frame 108 has a transparent bottom plate 110 which rests on the window14. The frame 108 has a cover 112 which overlies the transparent plate110. The cover 112 is movable vertically toward and away from thetransparent bottom plate 110 and has a plurality of spring biasedhold-down members 114 which engage the top [sheet] page of the documentto maintain the bottom [sheet] page in engagement with the transparentbottom 110.

The document is loaded into the frame 108 between the cover 112 andplate 110 at the front side of the feeder. The cover 112 can be movedupwardly to load the pages of the document into frame or tray 108 and isthen moved downwardly until the spring mounted hold-down members 114engage the top [sheet] page of the stack. The right edges of the[sheets] pages as viewed in FIG. 6 abut against a guide member supportedon rod 118 of the feed mechanism 106. The abutment 116 vertically alignsthe [sheets] pages and properly positions then in relation to copyingwindow 14.

The bottom page is in position to be exposed to the copying mechanism ofthe copying machine 12 through window 14. After exposed [the] eachbottom [sheet] page is fed one at a time from the transparent bottom 110by the feeding mechanism 106 and [are] deposited in a tray 119 of thedocument receiving station 104. A new bottom [sheet] page is thenpositioned on transparent plate 110 and is ready to be exposed to thecopying mechanism of the copying machine 12. The feeding operationcontinues until all pages of the document have been deposited in tray119 and the feeder is shut off.

The feeding mechanism 106 comprises a plurality of reciprocating members120 having sheet gripping means 122 at their forward end. The [gripper]reciprocating members 120 move to the left as viewed in the drawings andare forced upwardly so that the gripping means 122 thereof engages thebottom of the [sheet] page and upon withdrawal, pulls the [sheet] pagefrom the stack into a feed roll 124. The reciprocating members 120 areslidably mounted in recesses 125 provided in the bottom plate 126 of theframework of the feed mechanism 106 and are moved into and out of thetray 108 by a solenoid 127. The members 120 are drivingly interconnectedto move simultaneously by a crossbar 128. The crossbar 128 has aplurality of vertically extending pins 130 which are slidably receivedin openings 132 provided in the feed members 120. Slots 133 are providedin plate 126 to accommodate movement of pin 130. The movable ram 134 ofthe solenoid 127 is connected to the crossbar 128 by a pin connection[135] 130. By this arrangement, movement of the ram of the solenoid tothe left moves the leading ends of feed members 120 into the frame ortray 108. The front or leading portion of each member 120 has aninclined surface 120a which engages an inclined surface 110a formed onthe opposite edge of the transparent bottom 110. The wedging engagementbetween the surfaces 120a and 1102. forces the feed members 120upwardly. Upward movement of member 120 provides good frictionalengagement between the gripping means 122 and the underside of theleading edge of the bottom [sheet] page of the document. Furthermore theupward movement breaks the contact between the bottom [sheet] page andtransparent plate 110 as shown in FIG. 7 so that the [sheet] page can bereadily removed therefrom.

Preferably, the upper leading surfaces of the feed members 120 arecoated with friction material and have a plurality of very fine needles122a extending vertically from the upper surface. As the members moveupwardly, the fine needles 122a pierce the bottom [sheet] page. Theneedles 122a have very small diameters which are preferablyapproximately .002-.003 inch at the tips and preferably extend upwardapproximately .004 of an inch from member 120. The members 120 can beset so that the needles 122a do not go all the way through the paper andin any event make very small unnoticeable perforations in the paper andare sufiicient to grip the [sheet] page. Reverse movement of the ram 134of the solenoid 127 pulls the bottom [sheet] page away from the stackand introduces the leading portion thereof into feed rolls 124.

The feed rolls 124 engage the upper side of the leading edge of the[sheet] page and strip it from the feed members and move it along theupper fiat surface 126a into registry with a plurality of second feedrolls 136. The feed rolls 136 continue to feed the [sheet] page to theright as viewed in the drawings onto an apron 138. The [sheet] page isconveyed along the apron 138 and is deposited in the tray 119 of thedocument receiving station 104.

The feed rolls 124 have a friction surface so as to provide goodfrictional engagement with the [sheet] page to move same along the flatsurface 126a of plate 126 and along apron 138. The feed rolls 124 aremounted on a shaft 140 which is supported at its opposite end inbrackets 142 and 143. The feed rolls 136 also have a friction surfaceand are mounted on a drive shaft 144 which is likewise journaled in thebrackets 142 and 143. The drive shafts 140 and 144 are driven by a motor146 which drives a pulley 148. Pulley 148 drives pulleys 150 and 152mounted respectively on the ends of shafts 140 and 144 through aflexible drive belt 154. The drive arrangement provides for rotating ofrolls 124 and 136 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6.

The document to be copied is placed in the tray 108 at the documentsupply station 102 and the cover 112 is moved into position so that thehold-downs 112 urge the bottom sheet against the transparent plate 110.Controls, not shown, are provided to operate feeder 100 as a parasiteunit and which may be generally similar to the controls disclosed forthe automatic feeders 10 and 90. Feeder 100 has an on" button which isdepressed by the operator along with the on button of the copyingmachine 12. Depressing [on] button 160 energizes a solenoid H whichoperates like solenoid E of feeder 10 to depress the print button of thecopy machine 12. A photoelectric sensor 162 similar to sensor PBS offeeder 10 initiates operation of solenoid 127 of feed mechanism 106after the light illuminating the bottom sheet goes out.

Energization of solenoid 127 moves gripping members 120 into grippingengagement with the bottom page of the document which has just beenexposed to the copying mechanism. A suitable switch is activated bymovement of the members 120 to their extreme left position shown in FIG.7 and deenergizes solenoid 127 and initiates operation of motor 146 todrive rolls 124 and 136. Upon de-energization of the solenoid 127, themembers 120 are retracted preferably by spring means associated withsolenoid 127. Retraction of members 120 removes the bottom page fromdocument supply station 102 and feeds it into the first series of feedrolls 124. The feed rolls 124 strip the sheet from gripper means 122 andmove the [sheet] page along the surface 126a into registry with thesecond series of feed rolls 136. The feed rolls 136 move the documentalong the apron 138 into the tray 119. The operation continues until allthe pages of the document have been copied. If additional copies are tobe made of the document, the pages of the document accumulated in tray119 are reloaded into the document supply station 102 and the desiredoperation is repeated.

The structure of the document supply station 102 including frame [109]108 and cover 112 can also be pivoted as a unit about a guide rod 164 ofmachine 12 on which the frame 108 is mounted so that the machine can beused for copying documents, such as books or the like, by manualoperation of the machine 12.

Another feeder embodiment according to the present invention isdisclosed in FIGS. 8-11 and is designated generally as 170. Feeder 170is generally similar to the feeder 100. The feeder 170 is shown as afeeder for a copying machine 12" having a flush-mounted copying window14". The feeder 170 includes a document supply station 172 disposedabove the window 14" of the machine 12 and feeding mechanism 174 forsuccessively feeding the bottom [sheets] pages of the document afterthey have been copied by the copying mechanism into a document receivingstation 176.

The document supply station 172 includes a frame 178 which is suitablesecured to the machine 12" by suitable connector means. A transparentglass plate 180 is secured to the frame 178 and overlies the glasscopying window 14" of the machine. The document to be copied is placedface down on the transparent plate 180 and a vertically movable hingedcover 182 is lowered on top of the stack of documents and a plurality ofspring urged hold-downs 184 engage the top sheet and maintain the bottomsheet in contact with the transparent [window 130] plate 180. The covermember 182 is supported on the framework by a rod 186 which is free tomove in a vertical slot 188 provided in the frame 178. By thisarrangement the cover member 182 can move up and down to accommodateloading of different sized documents and moves downward as the stack isdepleted by the feed mechanism 174, The cover 182 has a handle 190 toprovide for pivoting the cover 182 about the rod [106] 186 to load thefeeder.

After the document has been loaded and the cover 182 placed on top ofthe document, an operatorlfs] depresses the on button 192 of the copyingmachine 12'' and the on" button 194 of the feeder 170. The feeder 170operates generally similar to feeder 100 and the controls described forfeeder 100 may be employed to control operation of feeder 170.Depression of [on] button 194 operates a solenoid I which depresses theprint button of the machine 12". As the document illuminating light goesout, a photoelectric sensor, not shown, initiates operation of thefeeding mechanism 174 to feed the bottom [sheet] page to station 176.

The feeding mechanism 174 comprises a plurality of reciprocable feedmembers 196 which move under the cover 182 and into engagement with thebottom page of the document and remove the document from the transparentplate 180. The transparent plate 180 has a beveled edge 180a whichcooperates with a beveled edge 196a provided on the leading portion ofeach of the feed members 196 to wedge the feed members 196 up intoengagement with the underside of the document positioned on thetransparent plate as described heretofore in connection with feedmembers 120 of feeder 100. The leading surface of the feed members 196are preferably rubber coated and may include a plurality of tiny needles198, as described heretofore to pierce the document. The piercing of thedocument by the needles 198 and the wedging action assist in breakingthe contact between the bottom sheet and the transparent plate 180 topermit air to move thereunder and help to break surface tensiontherebetween so that the page can be subsequently readily removed uponreverse movement of the feed members 196.

The feed members 196 are guidably supported in slots 200 provided in thefeeding mechanism framework. The feeding members 196 are moved intoengagement with the document by spring means 202. Spring means 202 actbetween the right end of slots 200 and the right end of feeder members196 as viewed in the drawings. The members 196 are retracted from theirFIGS. 9 and position to their position illustrated in FIG. 8 by aplurality of pinions 204 mounted on a common shaft 206 which in turn isdriven by an electric motor 208. The upper side of each of the members196 have a rack 210 formed thereon which meshes with one of the pinions204. The

members 196 are guided on suitable bearings, such as ball bearings 212.During non-feeding, the feed members 196 are maintained in theirretracted position by a solenoid operated detent 214 (FIG. 9) whichengages a recess [216] 217 on one of the members 196. The detent 214 isspring urged into recess [216] 217 when they are aligned and isretracted to release the associated member 196 by a solenoid I It isonly necessary to latch one of the feed members 196 since it locks thepinion shaft 206 which in turn holds the other members 196 in theirretracted positions through their associated pinion 204. Uponenergization of solenoid I by the photoelectric sensor, the detent 214will be withdrawn from recess [216] 217 and members 196 are moved bysprings 202 into engagement with the document. A suitable connectionsuch as a one way clutch may be provided between pinion shaft 206 andmotor 208 to permit the shaft to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 8 asthe members move toward the document.

The motor 208 is operated by a conventional switch 216 (FIG. 9) which istripped when the members 196 have moved to their extreme left position.Switch actuator 216a is received in a slot 218 in one of the members 196and is tripped after predetermined movement of the member 196 to theleft as shown in FIG. 9. Motor 208 rotates pinion shaft 206counterclockwise and pinions [210] 204 drive the members 196 and grippedsheet to the right.

As the leading edge of the [sheet] page is moved to the right, it isengaged by the feed rolls 220 which have a friction surface, such asrubber, and strip the [sheet] page from the feed member 196 and move italong an inclined ramp 222. A second set of feed rolls 224 are providedadjacent the upper end of the feed ramp 222 and engage the leading edgeof the [sheet] page and continue to move the page into a tray 226 of thedocument receiving station 176.

The rolls 220 and '224 are driven from the electric motor 208 through aseries of belts and pulleys as shown in FIG. 11. The motor 208 isstopped by switch 216.

Switch 216 is again tripped when the members 196 are in their retractedposition and stops motor 208 after a suitable delay to insure that rolls220 and 224 have moved the [sheet] page into tray 226.

The rolls 220 and 224 and the drive means therefor are mounted on acover member 230. The cover member 230 is pivoted to the frameworkproviding the tray 226 by pin 232. The left-hand end of the cover member230 has an opening 234 providing a hand hold so that the cover 230 canbe pivoted about the hinge pin 232 to remove the documents in the tray226.

The drive from motor 208 to pinion shaft 206 is disconnectible to permitpivoting of cover 230. The disconnectible drive includes a gear 235 onshaft 220a carrying rolls 220 which meshes with a gear 236 on a stubshaft on the stationary frame of the feeder mechanism 174. Gear 23 6meshes with a gear 238 mounted on a stub shaft which carries a pulley240. Pulley 240 drives a pulley 242 fixed on the end of pinion shaft 206through a belt 244.

The described operation of the feeder assumes that the feeder is to be aparasite-type unit. However, if the feeder 170 is to be an integral partof the copying machine 12", the feeder can be controlled by the circuitsof the copying machine and the photoelectric sensor and the solenoid Ifor actuating the print button can be eliminated.

A still further feeder embodiment of the present invention is disclosedin FIGS. 12 and 13 and is designated generally as 250. Feeder 250comprises a transfer carriage 252. The transfer carriage 252 is movablefrom a first position above a document supply station 254, and whereinthe carriage 252 grips the top [sheet] page of a document, to a secondposition above copying window 14 of copying machine 12. The carriage 252positions the document on the window 14 without releasing same and thecopying machine 12 is actuated to make a copy thereof through thecopying window 14. After the document page on the carrier 252 has beenexposed to the copying mechanism, it is moved to a third position whichis adjacent a document receiving station 256. Stripping means areprovided for stripping the page from the carrier so that it falls bygravity into a tray 25 8 of the document receiving station 256. Thecarriage 252 is then returned to the document supply station 254 whereit grips another document and carries same to the window 14 and to thedocument receiving station 256.

The document supply station 254 includes a housing providing a tray 260.The tray 260 has a vertically movable bottom 262. The bottom 262 isurged upwardly in the tray 260 by a plurality of springs 264 to maintainthe top [sheet] page of the documents in position to be engaged by thegripping means of the carrier 252. A solenoid K is operatively connectedto the tray 260 and has a plunger 266 connected to tray bottom 262 tomove the bottom 262 downward for loading of the tray 2 60.

The carriage 252 is supported for movement between the three positionsby a pair of spaced tracks 268 and 270. The tracks 268 and 270 extendfrom the document supply station 254 to the document receiving station256. Each track is generally C-shaped and is adapted to receive thereinrollers 272 supported on the carriage 252. The tracks 268 and 270 aresupported by brackets 274 and 276 on the copying machine 12. Bracket 274supports drive means such as driven pinions 278 which mesh with a gearrack 280 provided along the underside of the carriage 252 to drive thecarriage. The pinions 278 are driven from an electric motor 282 througha drive belt and pulley arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Aplurality of idler pinions 284 are supported on bracket 276 and meshwith a rack 286 on the underside of carriage 252 and prevent thecarriage from skewing. Depending from the underside of the carriage is aplurality of gripping means 288 which preferably are three rows ofsuction members 290. Suitable interconnected air conduits are providedon the carriage 252 to interconnect each suction member 290- to a rotaryair pump 292 mounted on the carriage 252. The air pump 292 is driven bya suitable electric motor 294 on the carriage 252.

At start-up, the documents are loaded into the tray 260 with the indiciaface down and the stack is urged upwardly by the springs 264. Thecarriage is in its first position above the tray 260 and the top [sheet]page of the stack of the documents moved into or adjacent to the bottomedge of the suction members 290. A switch is actuated which operatesmotor 294 to drive the rotary air pump 292 and establish a vacuum orsuction in the suction members 290 which will grip the top [sheet] pageof the document. After a suitable delay, the motor 282 is actuated torotate the pinions 278 which mesh with the rack 280 and drive thecarriage from its first position to a position in which the documentoverlies the copying window 14 of the copying machine. It should benoted that the tracks 268 and 270 curve slightly downward adjacent thecopying station to position the document in contact with the copyingwindow 14. At the copying station, the suction members 290 function ashold-down means to maintain the [sheet] page to be copied fiat and incontact with the copying window 14. When the carriage is in its secondposition as described, a switch is actuated to stop motor 282 and startthe copying cycle of the copying machine. After the image has beentransmitted to the copying mechanism of the copying machine, the drivemotor 282 is again actuated to move the carriage to its third positionover the tray 258 of the document receiving station 256. When thecarriage is properly positioned over the tray 258, a limit switch istripped which shuts off the motor 294 driving the rotary air pump whichin turn shuts off the suction and [sheet] page drops into the tray 258.The carriage 252 is then returned to its first position where it isready to carry out another cycle. The operation continues until all the[sheets] pages to be copied have been fed into the receiving tray 258 atwhich time the feeder 250 is shut off. If additional copies of thedocument are to be made, an operator must remove the document from thetray 258 and reload it into the tray 260 at the document supply station254.

It should be noted that the tracks 268 and 270 are preferably pivotedadjacent trays 158 and 260 by means (not shown) to provide for pivotingthe tracks 268 and 270 away from the window 14 to expose the copyingwindow of the machine for other types of copying.

Although the several feeder embodiments of the present invention havebeen described in considerable detail herein, it is intended to coverall adaptations modifications, and changes coming within the scope ofthe appended claims. For example, adhesive material could be substitutedfor the paper-gripping needles on the feeding members of feeders and170. Also adhesive material could be utilized to secure the sheets tothe carriage of feeder 250 and a solenoid operated stripper could beprovided at the document receiving station to engage and strip thesheets from the carriage. Furthermore, the feeding arrangements of themanual reloading feeders 100, and 250 may be incorporated into theautomatic feeders 10 and 90. The above noted changes are merelyrepresentative of some of the more apparent changes contemplated by thepresent invention and should not be construed as inclusive of all thechanges which come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. [A feeder] Apparatus for feeding the pages of a document[individually] to [a] the viewing station of a copying machine forviewing thereof [or any photoelectric device which views an originaldocument] comprising means defining a document [supply] station [fromwhich the individual pages are advanced to said viewing station, and],feeding means for advancing the pages of the document in order from saiddocument station to [said] the viewing station and for returning thepages of the document in order fr m the viewing station to said [supply]document station, [for repeated viewing thereof by the machine] andadjustable control means cooperably associated with said feeding meansfor controlling the operation of said feeding means to advance each ofthe document pages a selected number of times to the viewing station.

[2. A document feeder as defined in claim 1 further including controlmeans for controlling the operation of said feeding means and settableto effect a selected number of repeated operation of said feeding meansfor providing said selected number of viewings of said document.]

[3. A document feeder as defined in claim 2 wherein said feeding meansincludes an electrical drive motor and said control means includescircuit means for operating said electric drive motor, said circuitincluding an electrical switch means settable to provide a set number ofoperations of said circuit means whereby the machine can make a selectednumber of viewings of the document] [4. A document feeder as defined inclaim 1 wherein said feeding means includes a document station forreceiving a document from said viewing station and from which thedocument is returned to said document supply station] 5. [A documentfeeder] A pparatas as defined in claim [2] I which further c mprises anadditional document station, and wherein said feeding means includes [asecond document station,] means for delivering the document pages inorder from [said] the viewing station to said additional documentstation and for feeding the document pages in order from said [second]additional document station to [said] the viewing station [and], saidcontrol means [controls] further including means for controlling thenumber of times the document [is] pages are fed to [said] the viewingstation from said document stations.

6. [A document feeder] Apparatus as defined in claim wherein each ofsaid document stations [comprises] respectively includes a document trayhaving a feed opening in the lower portion thereof through which thedocument [is] pages are fed and a receive opening in the upper portionthereof through which the document pages are received, said apparatusfurther including gate means movable to an operative position [fordirecting the document into the tray at the upper portion of the trayand] in communication respectively with said upper openings and theviewing station to establish a feed path therebetween, said controlmeans [includes] further including means for [positioning] moving saidgate means [for the tray receiving] to said operative position only withrespect to the one of said document trays which is to receive [and] thedocument pages from the viewing station [in said operative position].

7. [A document feeder] Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each ofsaid document stations [comprises] respectively includes a verticallymovable document tray movable between a feed position wherein saidfeeding means feeds a document page from said tray to the viewingstation and a receive position wherein said feeding means feeds adocument page to said tray from the viewing station and means for movingsaid trays selectively to said positions, [between a feed positionwherein a document can be fed therefrom to said viewing station and areceiving position wherein a document can be received from said viewingstation and] said control means [controls the position of said trays sothat when one of the trays is in said feed position, the other of saidtrays is in said receive position] including means for controlling theoperation of said means for moving said trays to cause which ever one ofsaid trays is to receive document pages to be moved to said receiveposition and the other of said trays to be moved to said feed position.

[8. A document feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said viewing stationincludes an external viewing window in the machine and through which thedocument is exposed to the viewing mechanism of the machine] 9. Adocument feeder for a machine which views the document pages at aviewing station comprising means providing a document supply station forthe document, means providing a stationary viewing window spaced apredetermined distance from said supply station, means for presentingthe pages in said supply station to said viewing window including meansfor positioning each page in proper orientation on said window forviewing by the viewing mechanism of the machine, wherein at least aportion of the feeder overlies said window, and means supporting saidportion for movement away from said window to expose said window.

10. A document feeder for a machine which views the document pages at aviewing station comprising means providing a document supply station forthe document, means providing a stationary viewing window spaced apredetermined distance from said supply station, means for presentingthe pages in said supply station to said viewing window including meansfor positioning each page in proper orientation on said window forviewing by the viewing mechanism of the machine, wherein said documentsupply station is located above said window and said means forpresenting a document to the window includes [a] hold-down means forexerting a downward force on the presented document page to urge it intoviewing position.

11. A document feeder as defined in claim wherein said means forpresenting a document to the window further including means including areciprocable member to grip a page of the document and remove same from[the] said window to present the succeeding page of the document to[the] said window.

12. A document feeder for advancing the pages of a document to be copiedto a viewing station of a copying machine [or for any photoelectricdevice having a viewing station at which an original document is viewed]comprising means providing a document storage station into which thepages of the document are loaded in the form of a stack [and], means forsuccessively advancing the pages of the document [at] from said documentstorage station to the viewing station [and from the viewing station toa document receiving station] including a reciprocable feed memberhaving [sheet] page gripping means [and operable] adapated to engage apage of the document upon movement in one direction and remove theengaged page from the stack upon movement in the opposite direction, andmeans associated with the document storage station and engagable withsaid feed member as said feed member moves in said one direction [todrive] for driving said gripping means into engagement with a page.

13. A document feeder as defined in claim 12 wherein said gripping meansincludes a plurality of small needles projecting from the leadingportion of said feed member and adapted to pierce the bottom [sheet]page of the document upon movement of said feed member into engagementwith the bottom [sheet] page.

14. A document feeder as defined in claim 12 wherein said gripping meansincludes adhesive material on the leading portion of said feed member[and] adapted to adhere to the bottom [sheet] page of the document uponmovement of said feed member into engagement with the bottom [sheet]page.

15. A document feeder as defined in claim 12 wherein said document[supply] storage station includes a lower bottom plate upon which thebottom [sheet] page of the document rests and said means associated withsaid document storage station includes a beveled surface on said bottomplate which engages the leading portion of [the] said feed member toforce it into engagement with the bottom [sheet] page.

119. A document feeder as defined in claim 15 wherein the leadingportion of said feed member is beveled and is engageable with saidbeveled surface of said bottom plate to provide a wedging action on saidfeed member.

17. A document feeder as defined in claim 16 wherein said means forsuccessively advancing the pages of the document further [include]includes a plurality of said feed members, each of said feed membershaving a beveled surface [which engages] adapted to engage said beveledsurface of said bottom plate to force said feed members into engagementwith the bottom [sheet] page of the document and drive means for movingsaid feed members simultaneously.

18. A document feeder as defined in claim 17 wherein said drive meansincludes a solenoid and means for drivingly connecting said solenoid tosaid feed member.

19. A document feeder as defined in claim 17 wherein each of said feedmembers respectively includes a rack, and said drive means comprises aplurality of springs biasing said feed members in said one directiontoward said bottom plate, a shaft, a plurality of pinions supported forrotation by [a driven] said shaft and positioned thereon to respectivelymeshingly engage said racks [each of said feed members having a rack inmeshing engagement with an associated one of said pinions wherebyrotation of said pinions drives said feed members in said oppositedirection].

20. A document feeder as defined in claim 19 wherein said drive meansfurther includes means for locking said feed members in a position inwhich said beveled surfaces are out of engagement and [releasable topermit] means for releasing said means for locking whereby said feedmembers [to] move in said direction under the influence of said springs.

21. A document feeder as defined in claim 12 wherein [said] the viewingstation [comprises] includes an exterior transparent window throughwhich the [documents] document pages are exposed to the viewingmechanism of the machine and wherein said document [sup ply] storagestation [has] includes a bottom transparent plate which overlies [said]the exterior window whereby the bottom [sheet] page of the document isexposed to the viewing mechanism through said transparent plate and[said] the exterior window.

22. A document feeder for successively feeding pages of a document to[a] the viewing station of a copying machine [or for any photoelectricdevice having a viewing station at which an original document is viewed]comprising means providing a document supply station into which the[documents] document pages to be viewed are loaded, a carriage fortransporting a document page, [and] a document receiving station adaptedto receive the [documents] document pages after they have been viewed,[a] movable carriage support means supporting said carriage for movementfrom a first position adjacent said document supply station to a second[station] position at [said] the viewing station and from said second[station] posiiton to a third [station] position adjacent said documentreceiving station, and sheet gripping means on said carriage [and]adapted to grip a document page at said first [station] position and torelease [said] a gripped document page at said third [station] position.

23. A document feeder as defined in claim 22 wherein said sheet grippingmeans comprises a plurality of suction members depending from saidcarriage and which feeder further includes means for selectivelyestablishing a suction in said suction members to secure [the sheet] apage to the carriage at said first position and means for discontinuingthe suction in said suction members at said third [station] position torelease [the sheet] a secured page.

24. A document feeder as defined in claim 22 wherein said meanssupporting said carriage for movement ineludes guideways extending fromsaid document supply station to said document receiving station andhaving an intermediate portion adjacent said second carriage [station]position which is offset vertically from the other portions thereof toprovide for positioning a [sheet] document page carried by the carriageat [said] the viewing station 25. A document feeder for a copyingmachine [or for any photoelectric device] which views an originaldocument through an exterior viewing window comprising means defining adocument supply station for receiving a document to be viewed, meanssupporting said document supply station adjacent [said] the viewingwindow, means for presenting the pages of a document to the viewingwindow including means for positioning each presented document pagerelative to the viewing window for exposure to the viewing mechanism ofthe machine through the window, said means for presenting the documentto the window [comprising] including power driven roller meansengageable with [the] a document page at said document supply stationand operable to convey the engaged document page to the window, saidpower driven roller means [includes] including a plurality of spacedrollers[,] and means for counter-balancing said rollers to exert apredetermined pressure on the window and operable to provide formovement of said rollers away from the window an extent necessary toaccommodate the thickness of a [sheet] page being advanced across [said]the window by said rollers.

26. A document feeder for a copying machine [or for any photoelectricdevice] which views an original document through an exterior viewingwindow comprising menas defining a document supply station for recevinga document to be viewed, means supporting said document supply stationadjacent [said] the viewing window, means for presenting the [page]pages of a document to the viewing window including means for positionmgeach presented document page relative to the viewing window for exposureto the viewing mechanism of the mach ne through the window, saiddocument supply station [is] being located above [said] the window andsaid means for presenting [a] document pages to the window [includes a]including holddown means for exerting a downward force on [the] apresented document page to urge it into viewing position, said means forpresenting a document to the window further including means including areciprocable member having [a] document page gripping means, and meansfor reciprocating said member to grip a page of the document and removesame from the window to present the succeeding page of the document tothe window, said gripping means [comprises] comprising a plurality offine needles protruding vertically from said member and adapted topenetrate a [single] presented page of the document and feed it uponmovement of said reciprocable member.

27. A document feeder for a copying machine .[or for any photoelectricdevice] which views an original document through an exterior viewingwindow comprising means defining a document supply station for receivinga document to be viewed, means supporting said document supply stationadjacent [said] the viewing window, means for presenting the pages of adocument to the viewing window including means for positioning eachpresented document page relative to the viewing window for exposure tothe viewing mechanism of the machine through the window, said documentsupply station [is] being located above [said] the window [and], saidmeans for presenting [a] document pages to the window [includes a]including hold-down means for exerting a downward force on [the] apresented document page to urge it into viewing position, said means forpresenting a document to the window further including means including areciprocable member having [a] document page gripping means, and meansfor reciprocating said member to grip a page of the document and removesame from the window to present the succeeding page of the document tothe window, said gripping means [comprises] comprising adhesive materialon said reciprocating member [and engageable with] adapted to engage apresented document page and feed it upon movement of said reciprocablemember [to secure the document to said member].

28. A document feeder for 2. copying machine [or for any photoelectricdevice] which views an original document through an exterior viewingwindow comprising means defining a document supply station for receivinga document to be viewed, means defining a document receiving station forreceiving a document which has been viewed, means supporting saiddocument supply station adjacent [said] the viewing window, means forpresenting the pages of a document to the viewing window including meansfor positioning each presented document page relative to [the] theviewing windows for exposure to the viewing mechanism of the machinethrough the window, said means for [feeding] presenting [the] documentpages to [a] the window [includes] including a carriage supported formovement between a first position adjacent said document supply station[and], a second position above the window and a third position adjacentsaid document receiving stati n, and document gripping means on saidcarriage [and adapted to engage] for engaging a document page when saidcarriage is at said first position [and], [to position] for positioningthe gripped document page on the window when [the] said carriage is atsaid second position said carriage is further supported for movement toa third position adjacent a document receiving station and said carriageis adapted to deliver a] and for releasing the document page [from thewindow to said document receiving station and to release the document]when said carriage is at said third position.

29. A document feeder as defined in claim 28 wherein said documentgripping means comprises a plurality of suction members.

30. A document feeder as defined in claim 28 wherein said documentgripping means comprises parts having adhesive material thereon andfurther [including] ineludes stripping means adjacent said third[station] position to strip the document page from said adhesive [areas]material when said carriage is at said third position.

31. A document feeder is defined in claim 29 further including a suctionpump and means for communicating said suction pump with said suctionmembers to establish a suction in the suction members to [secure] engagea document page [to a carriage].

32. In a method of making a plurality of collated copies of a documenthaving document [sheets] pages stacked in a given order at a supplystation and including exposing individual document [sheets] pages at anexposure station of a copying apparatus, the improvement comprisingsequentially [exposing said individual] feeding the stacked document[sheets] pages in said given order [a plurality of times automatically]from the supply station to the exposure station; sequentially feedingthe exposed document pages to a receiving station from the exposurestation in a manner maintaining said given order of the document pagestherein; and thereafter sequentially feeding the document pages in saidgiven order from the receiving station back to the exposure station forexposure thereof whereby the copies obtained from [said] the exposeddocument [sheets] pages are repetitively produced in said given order.

[[33. The invention defined in claim 32, wherein said improvementincludes, sequentially moving the stacked document sheets in said givenorder from said supply station to said exposure station; andsequentially feeding exposed document sheets from said exposure stationback to said supply station in a manner maintaining said given order ofsaid document] [34. The invention defined in claim 32, wherein saidimprovement includes, sequentially feeding the stacked document sheetsin said given order from said supply station to said exposure station;sequentially feeding said exposed document sheets to a receiving stationin a manner maintaining said given order of said document; andthereafter sequentially feeding said document sheets in said receivingstation back to said exposure station in said given order] 35. Theinvention defined in claim [34,] 32 wherein said improvement includessequentially feeding the document [sheets] pages that have been fed to[said] the exposure station from [said] the receiving station andexposed thereat, back to [said] the supply station in a mannermaintaining said given order [so that the cyclic copying of documentsfed from the supply station to the receiving station and back to thesupply station can be repeated].

[36. An improved method of handling a multi-page document having pagesarranged in a predetermined order to facilitate production of multiplecollated copies of the document, said method comprising sequentiallymoving pages of said document in the predetermined order from a supplystation into copying relation with an exposure station of a copyingapparatus; and sequentially moving pages exposed at the exposure stationback to the supply station in a manner maintaining the predeterminedorder.]

37. A method of feeding a multipage document to facilitate production ofmultiple collated copies of the document, said method comprisingsequentially moving [individually] the individual pages of [said] thedocument in a predetermined order into [a] copying relation with theexposure station of a copying apparatus; sequentially moving pagesexposed at [said] the exposure station to a receiving station in amanner maintaining said predetermined order; and, after the last page of[said] the multinage document has been received at [said] the receivingstation, sequentially moving [said documents] the document pages in saidpredetermined order from [said] the receiving station back to [said] theexposure station.

38. The invention defined in claim 3-7, further including the step ofsequentially moving [said] the pages, which have been moved from [said]the receiving station to [said] the exposure station, back to theiroriginal location in the supply station in said predetermined order, sothat the defined [feeding] moving cycle can be repeated.

39. In a document feeding mechanism cooperably associated with 0 copyingmachine having a copying position, said feeding mechanism having [meansdefining a copying position,] means defining a document supply stationand for supporting a stack of document pages in a given order, [and]means for [moving documents] feeding document pages supported at [said]the supply station seriatum in said given order to [said] the copyingposition, [the improvement comprising] and means for feeding documentpages from [said] the copying position back to [said] the supply stationin a manner maintaining said given order, the improvement comprisingmeans for efiecting insertion of a separator page between each copy ofthe document made by the copying machine.

[40. A document feeder as defined in claim 39 including control meansfor controlling feeding and delivering of sheets including means foroperating the machine to make a separator page between each replica ofthe document to separate each replica of the document made by themachine] 41. A document feeder as defined in claim [40] 39 wherein saidmeans for [operating the machine to provide] effecting includes meansfor feeding a separator sheet as the last page of the document.

[42. A device for handling a document having document pages arranged ina predetermined order in a manner facilitating the production ofmultiple collated document copies, said device being adapted for usewith copying apparatus of the type having a copying station whereatdocument pages are located for copying and comprising means defining asupply station for receiving and supporting in the predetermined order astack of document pages to be copied; means for sequentially moving inthe predetermined order to the copy station, document pages supported atsaid supply station; and means for sequentially feeding document pagesfrom the copy station to said suppl station in a manner maintaining thepredetermined order] 43. A document handling device adapted for use withcopying apparatus of the type having a copying station at which sheetsof a document are located for copying, said device comprising firstmeans for supporting a stack of document sheets; second means forsupporting a stack of document sheets; and means for feeding [a stackof] document sheets seriatum back and forth between said first andsecond supporting means and [across] to the [copy] copying station in amanner maintaining the order [of feed] of the document sheets in [said]the stack, whereby copies produced from [said] the document will becollated in the order [supplied to said first support means] copied.

44. Apparatus for feeding the pages of a document to the viewing stationof a copy machine for viewing thereat comprising means defining adocument station, feeding means for advancing the pages of the documentin order from said document station to the viewing station and forreturning the pages of the document in order from the viewing station tosaid document station, adjustable control means cooperably associatedwith said feeding means for controlling the operation of said feedingmeans to advance each of the document pages a selected number of timesto the viewing station, and sensing means cooperably associated withsaid document station and said control means for sensing when the lastdocument page has been fed from said document station and forconcomitantly adjusting said control means to adjust said selectednumber of times the document pages are to be advanced by said feedingmeans to the viewing station.

